#1. SURREY MLAS CONDEMN DEROGATORY REMARKS ON SURREY
Surrey NDP MLAs said this week that they are upset by remarks made by Surrey West End Business Improvement Association Executive Director Lynn Hellyar who had said earlier that people from Surrey coming to the West End aren’t "friendly" to the gay population.
“Residents of Surrey are peace loving, hard working individuals who do not believe in advocating hatred towards others,” said Surrey MLAs Sue Hammell, Bruce Ralston, Harry Bains and Jagrup Brar.
Hellyar’s comments came a day after 20 year-old Michael Kandola was charged with beating up a gay couple on Davie Street. She had remarked on a radio station, "I know there are a lot of people coming from the Surrey area to the west end and they're not particularly friendly towards the gay population but it's mostly, I would say that they're ignorant, they don't understand it."
“We don’t agree with these comments. These comments come at a time when all of us should be working towards creating a more tolerant society. They should be immediately withdrawn,” said Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton.
“We are privileged to serve in Surrey, one of Canada’s most diversified communities and we give the people of Surrey full marks for making this city a multicultural and a tolerant city.”
“NDP has always advocated equality and strongly believes in the principles of fairness. However we do realize that awareness and education are key components towards promoting understanding between people of different cultures, religions and sexual orientation. There is a lot of work that still needs to be done for us to achieve this objective,” said Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley.
#2. PREMIER CALLS BY-ELECTIONS FOR TWO ELECTORAL DISTRICTS
Premier Gordon Campbell has called by-elections for the Vancouver-Burrard and Vancouver-Fairview electoral districts for October 29. The seats became vacant when MLAs Lorne Mayencourt (Vancouver-Burrard) resigned in September to run in the federal election and Gregor Robertson (Vancouver-Fairview) resigned in July to run for mayor in Vancouver.
For information on voting and registering to vote, visit http://www.electionsbc.com or call Elections BC at 1-800 661-8683.
#3. JAMES & NDP CANDIDATES KICK OFF BY-ELECTION CAMPAIGN
BC NDP Leader Carole James, joined by NDP candidates Jenn McGinn and Spencer Herbert and small business owner Susan Heyes, marked the first day of the recently-announced provincial by-elections with a stark reminder of what is at stake.
"The choice before the by-election voters couldn't be clearer," said James. "It will be a choice between someone representing an arrogant government that's making life harder for average people and a New Democrat who's offering real solutions.
"Jenn and Spencer are already at the doorstep spreading the NDP's message. In the coming weeks, they will be offering the people of a clear choice. And they will help define the stark contrast between Gordon Campbell's values and mine."
#4. DEMOLITION BEGINS ON COQUIHALLA TOLL PLAZA
The process to decommission the toll booths on the Coquihalla Highway is underway, Premier Gordon Campbell announced this week.
“Removing the tolls on the Coquihalla Highway puts money back in the pockets of the commuters, tourists and truck drivers who regularly drive this highway,” said Campbell. “This will translate into savings of hundreds of dollars each year for the average regular user, and thousands of dollars for the truck drivers who rely on this important transportation route.”
Over the next few days, the 13 toll booths on the northbound and southbound lanes will be stripped of materials. Crews will also be cutting support beams in preparation for the removal of the canopy and concrete booths. The demolition is expected to take several weeks.
After the booths are removed, portions of the road will need to be paved and marked. Once complete, traffic will flow uninterrupted through the site, with no stop necessary between Kamloops and the Lower Mainland.
“The tolls served their purpose, and paid for a highway that literally opened up B.C.’s Interior,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Kevin Falcon. “Removing the toll booths will allow drivers to maintain a normal pattern of driving along this stretch of highway.”
Motorists are reminded that there is a traffic pattern change entering and leaving the toll plaza on the Coquihalla Highway, and minor traffic delays may be necessary as demolition proceeds. The speed limit through the toll plaza is currently posted at 30 km/h.
#5. SENIORS’ VIGNETTES PROMOTE HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES
Ten short videos promoting healthy lifestyle tips for older adults in B.C. will soon begin airing on the Knowledge Network, said Mary Polak, Minister of Healthy Living and Sport, this week.
“It’s important that as we get older, we take steps to continue to lead healthy, active lifestyles and we’re pleased through this project to bring this message into people’s homes,” said Polak. “The ActNow BC Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Seniors vignettes encourage older adults to eat healthy foods, get regular physical activity and make simple, healthy choices that can have a tremendous impact on their overall health.”
In addition to the 10 English vignettes that will air on the Knowledge Network, there are also six in Cantonese and six in Punjabi available on DVD and online that highlight:
* healthy eating and appropriate serving sizes.
* ways to get 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
* the role of supplements in meeting the nutrition needs of older adults.
* tips to keep bones healthy as people age.
English, Cantonese and Punjabi-speaking older adults were all involved throughout the development of the vignettes, which represents a partnership between the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, the BC Dairy Foundation and the Knowledge Network. The Province invested $150,000 in the project.
The Knowledge Network will air the vignettes for the next year, and the video shorts will be available on DVD and on the ActNow BC website at www.actnowbc.ca.
#6. “WE CAN” COALITION MEMBERS BACK FROM INDIA
Seven members of “We Can End All Violence against Women” Coalition of British Columbia have returned from a two-week visit to India. The goal of the delegation was to learn more about the South Asian “We Can” campaign which is now in its fourth year.
The delegates visited Delhi, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), and Haridwar (Uttarakhand) where they met with Indian alliance members, campaign organizers and change makers. A meeting with Dutch colleagues who are about to launch the “We Can” campaign in Holland took place in London, UK, on the way back.
The delegation consisted of Miriam Palacios (Oxfam Canada), Lali Pawa (Law Courts Education Society of B.C.), Sarjeet Purewal (Pacific Community Resources Society), Paul Sihota (Vancouver and District Labour Council), Manpreet Kailay (Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society), Uma Grant (Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services) and Anastasia Gaisenok (“We Can” B.C. campaign assistant). B.C. delegation was joined by Lee Eggleston from Rape Crisis England and Wales as an observer in preparation for starting the “We Can” campaign in UK.
The “We Can” campaign was launched in Bangladesh in 2004, and since then has spread to five other countries in the region: India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and Afghanistan. British Columbia is the first place to pioneer the campaign outside South Asia; the coalition was formed in 2007 and now includes more than forty organizations.
At the moment the “We Can” Coalition of B.C. is planning a series of public events to take place during 16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women (November 25 – December 10).
#7. SAFA’S ANNUAL DIWALI GALA FOR A GOOD CAUSE
South Asian Family Association (SAFA) is holding their Annual Diwali Gala "Light Up the Night" on Friday October 17 at Fraserview Hall in Vancouver. This fund-raising gala will benefit the SAFA Youth Scholarship program and a future SAFA Family Resource Centre.
All the proceeds from this event will be donated to the SAFA Youth Scholarship program which was created to encourage South Asian students to become locally engaged in their communities by volunteering time and energy as well as for rewarding academic excellence. The scholarships are awarded at SAFA's flagship festival, Sawan Mela, each summer and this year, SAFA with the help of community sponsors, awarded scholarships to three dynamic young women pursuing higher education: Pavandeep Gill, Sonia Kalia and Sukhmanpreet Sidhu.
SAFA has always had a long term vision to establish a youth centre, to bring South Asian arts, community and role models to our youth in a progressive and safe environment. Our goal is to empower youth and provide a venue for them to come together to socialize, celebrate, and embrace their South Asian heritage. It is through the cultural arts that youth and parents are made aware of various social changes within society. This awareness can also bridge the "generation gap", enhance family ties, and strengthen our community. Involvement in cultural arts can have positive development effects for youth in raising self esteem and also creates valuable capital, including: teamwork, self expression, agile thinking and communication. These are all necessary skills for academic and community success. These opportunities and outlets are paramount to empower our youth.
Included in the ticket price ($30, students - $20, table - $200) are dinner and open-floor dancing, music courtesy of DJ AfterShock, celebrity Masters of Ceremonies, special guests, cultural performances, including Bhangra by Punjab Cultural Arts Centre, Giddha, Live Music, fire-dancing, a viewing of our BC150 Birthday card and much more to be announced. There will be a 50/50 draw as well as a free children’s' area.
Go to www.safa.ca or call Suki at 778-688-3996.
#8. ICBC: SMART DRIVING SAVES MONEY, HELPS EARTH
ICBC has launched a new campaign to help drivers save money, protect the environment and be smarter on the road.
“Driving smart is about changing how we drive to save money on gas and reduce our vehicle carbon emissions,” said Jeff Schulz, vice president of Strategic Marketing. “These smart driving habits have an added benefit of being safer driving habits. We’re asking motorists to examine the impact of their driving habits and learn how to avoid being ‘dirty drivers’.”
ICBC encourages motorists to visit a new website, drivesmartsavegreen.com, which offers interactive information and resources for saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This campaign has a humorous approach that features fictional characters, confessing their dirty driving habits. Drivers can view these “dirty driver” video confessions on the site’s interactive bulletin board.
“Driving smart means making the right driving decisions,” said Nicolas Jimenez, Director of Road Safety. “Planning your route, allowing enough time, reducing your speed, and not accelerating and then braking hard are examples of green driving that also help improve safety.”
The website offers a fuel costs and emissions calculator to assist drivers in understanding the financial and environmental impact of their driving habits. The site also has links to additional resources on how to save money on gas, reduce carbon emissions and drive safely.
An e-mail-a-friend function allows visitors to share their favourite video clips or challenge someone to take a smart driving quiz.
Visitors can sign up for e-mail updates that include new tips, videos, quizzes and contests.
#9. SURREY MEMORIAL’S KEY FUNDRAISER: TULIPS FOR TOMORROW
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation’s second annual Tulips for Tomorrow is underway, with an appeal to support the hospital and beautify the community.
Tulips for Tomorrow is the Foundation’s key annual fundraising initiative. “By rallying around Tulips for Tomorrow, our generous donors are helping the hospital and showing their civic pride,” says Foundation President / CEO Jane Adams. “As a result, tens of thousands of Princess Irene tulip bulbs will be planted this fall to bloom into spectacular displays of red and orange come springtime.”
This year, tulip bulbs are being made available to the public, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Foundation. Tulip bulb packages can be found at five Surrey locations:
*99 Nursery and Florist - 9376 King George Highway
*Art's Nursery - 8940 192 street
*David Hunter Garden Centers - 15175 72nd avenue
*Central City - customer service desk
*Guildford Town Centre - customer service desk
#10. MINISTER RICH COLEMAN CLEARED
Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman issued the following statement this week:
“On July 10, 2008, I referred matters to the conflict of interest commissioner that were brought to my attention by the auditor general regarding potential conflict of interest concerns. At that time, I committed to making the commissioner’s opinion public.
“On September 17, I received that opinion, which concludes that there was no conflict of interest and no perception of conflict of interest in my decisions as minister of forests and range to transfer forest tenure in April 2006 and to allow private lands to be removed from tree forest licenses in January 2007.
“In his opinion, the commissioner states: ‘It is significant that from the outset of his career as Minister of Forests and Range, Minister Coleman triggered the well developed machinery of conflict of interest and apparent conflict of interest prevention set forth in section 11 of the Act. He accessed and followed the advice from the then Conflict of Interest Commissioner. In my view, the Minister was careful throughout to properly insulate his ministerial responsibilities from allegations of apparent conflict of interest.’
“Commissioner Fraser concludes: ‘... a reasonably well informed person would not reasonably perceive that the Minister’s decisions … must have been affected by his brother’s employment with either company.’
“I would like to thank the commissioner for hearing from me as to the facts of this matter and for the diligent and detailed work he undertook during his review. I have always tried to act in good faith as a minister of the Crown and I will continue to do so in the future.”
#11. NDP: CANCELLATION OF JURY & CRIMINAL CASES WILL INCONVENIENCE PEOPLE
The NDP is opposing a move by the Supreme Court of B.C. to cancel jury and criminal trials for a three-week period in February of 2010 because police officers and sheriffs will be required to concentrate on Olympic security issues.
“It is disgraceful considering the huge amount of backlogs that already exist in B.C. courts," said NDP Public Safety critic Mike Farnworth, adding that the people of British Columbia pay to see justice carried out in the province, and delaying criminal trials is unacceptable.
A memorandum has been sent out by B.C. Supreme Court to lawyers asking them not to schedule criminal or jury cases during a three-week period starting February 6, 2010, to March 1, 2010. The memorandum clearly states that police officers and sheriffs will be required to concentrate on Olympics security.
The B.C. provincial courts have also decided to operate a 'skeleton' criminal process during the three-week time period. This will not only inconvenience people but will send the wrong signal that serving justice isn’t such an important thing, remarked Farnworth.
He said this simply means that the B.C. taxpayers are picking up more of the tab for the Games. "This is an Olympic cost. We already have a shortage of sheriffs. Moreover in 2002 the B.C. Liberals closed 24 courthouses mostly in small and rural communities. These closures meant proceedings have had to be moved to centralized courts, adding to the backlog in those facilities. Now if the courts will take a three week holiday, these backlogs might only get worse,” said Farnworth.
In Surrey and Vancouver, two of the busiest provincial courts in B.C., it can take up to 12 months to get a criminal matter to trial.
#12. CANADA POST: ENDANGERED SPECIES STAMPS
To complete the three-year Endangered Species series, Canada Post will issue the final set of domestic rate stamps (52-cents) showcasing Canadian air creatures at risk of extinction.
This year's stamps will feature the Taylor's checkerspot (Ephydras editha taylori), a butterfly named for its checkered black and orange wings on one stamp. The roseate tern (Sterna dougallii), aerial acrobat of the coastal zones, darts onto the second stamp. The peculiar burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) wobbles onto the next stamp and the prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) scurries onto the final stamp in a bright, showy dash. In 2006, homage was paid to creatures of the land while the second series featured some of Canada's mysterious aquatic species.
"This final release in the three-year series is somewhat bittersweet," says Danielle Trottier, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post. "To have had the opportunity to bring attention to creatures at risk of extinction has been heartwarming and incredibly rewarding." According to the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), there are more than 500 plant and animal species currently at risk in Canada. The homes of our wildlife are withering away at an alarming pace due to human activities like development, deforestation and pollution.
#13. SECONDARY STUDENT SATISFACTION CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
The eighth annual satisfaction survey, released this week by Education Minister Shirley Bond, shows that B.C. high school students and their parents are increasingly satisfied with the education system in this province.
In the survey, Grade 12 students showed increased satisfaction in all areas of their learning over last year, building on a steady trend of improvement since 2003. Secondary students and their parents all reported five-year highs in terms of academic satisfaction, with each category either matching or improving on last year’s results. Grade 10 and 12 students reported increased satisfaction with how school prepared them for post-secondary education and future employment.
In addition, there was an increase across all respondent groups reporting that students are learning more about healthy lifestyles. Most significant was the fact that Grade 12 students and parents showed noticeable increases, of eight per cent and six per cent respectively.
Other survey results show:
* Over the last five years, each of the surveyed groups has shown increases of between seven per cent and 15 per cent in terms of their satisfaction with the delivery of health and fitness education.
* Learning satisfaction amongst Grade 3/4 respondents decreased by another two per cent this year to 63 per cent.
* 88 per cent of elementary school parents and 81 per cent of secondary school parents expressed confidence in their child’s safety at school – increases of one per cent and three per cent over last year.
For complete survey results, visit www.bced.gov.bc.ca/reporting/surveys/sat-bas.php
#14. SURREY ADOPTS SUSTAINABILITY CHARTER
Exactly four days after receiving UBCM’s Green Cities Award, Surrey City Council adopted the highly-anticipated Surrey Sustainability Charter at Monday night’s Council meeting.
The Sustainability Charter is the first document of its kind in the Lower Mainland that comprehensively addresses the issues of social, environmental and economic sustainability. It is an overarching policy document that will guide all city decisions in the future.
“The Sustainability Charter provides us with a framework to best develop and manage Surrey’s human and physical resources to create a strong, sustainable city,” said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “It is about making the right choices and doing the right things to ensure we create a city that future generations are able to both utilize and enjoy.”
The Sustainability Charter identifies a number of immediate actions to advance the Vision and Goals set out in the Charter, including:
* Establishing a Sustainability Office and hire a Sustainability Manager
* Establishing a Sustainability Indicators Task Force to set baseline indicators to monitor success in implementing the Charter
* Creating a Development Checklist that will require all developments to be sustainable
* Creating an Economic Development Strategy and an Employment Land Strategy, with the goal of creating a 1:1 job to resident worker ratio
* Creating a Housing Action Plan to set housing targets for a full range of housing needs
* Increasing Energy Security through district energy facilities in town centre plans
* Supporting the Climate Change Action Plan, of which Surrey is a signatory
* Completing an Ecosystem Management Study to enhance and protect Surrey’s natural areas and fish and wildlife habitats.
#15. SURREY RESIDENTS CAN WEIGH IN ON PROVINCIAL SPENDING
Surrey residents will have the chance to participate in deciding how the provincial government should determine spending priorities. The Legislature's Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services has been invited by local Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer to hear from the people of Surrey on October 15.
The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services will hold public hearings Wednesday, October 15 in Surrey from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Fraser Room, Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel, 15269 – 104th Avenue, to learn more about the public's fiscal and spending priorities. The all-party committee will hold 17 hearings in different regions of the province.
Details on the latest fiscal and economic forecast can be found at www.fin.gov.bc.ca.
To answer the questions in the Budget 2009 Consultation Paper on-line, visit the website at www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations/survey.asp or email answers to FinanceCommittee@leg.bc.ca.
#16. VANCOUVER ELEMENTARY TEACHERS: KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN DURING OLYMPICS
"Vancouver elementary teachers have taken the position that Vancouver public schools should remain open during the 2010 Olympic games," said Glen Hansman, President of the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers' Association (VESTA), Local 391 of the BCTF.
"At this point, the Vancouver Board of Education is just considering whether or not to do this. But elementary teachers decided two weeks ago at their General Meeting to reject any proposal that would see schools closed.
"Of major concern was the welfare of students and families in our inner city schools, who would have little options during that time period should schools be closed. From that perspective, it is an equity issue. It is not realistic or fair to expect families to scramble to find child care during those two weeks.
"Elementary teachers recognize that transportation in and out of the city will be difficult during those two weeks, but it should be the public's expectation that Vanoc and the city have plans to deal with that concern.”
VESTA represents the 2500 elementary teachers and 200 adult educators in Vancouver public schools.
#17. HEALTH-CARE SERVICES ENHANCED ACROSS FRASER HEALTH
Patients in the province’s fastest-growing health authority will benefit from a number of strategies to increase capacity and improve services at several hospitals and health-care facilities, representatives from the provincial government and Fraser Health announced this week.
“Acute care, emergency, geriatric, psychiatric and rehabilitation services will be improved at health-care facilities across Fraser Health with the implementation of these initiatives,” said Health Services Minister George Abbott. “Fraser Health will add more than 60 beds, improve procedures, and expand departments to build greater capacity and efficiency. I would like to congratulate the team at Fraser Health who have worked to put this plan together.”
More than 60 recommendations, including the opening of 50 acute care and 19 residential care beds in Burnaby, Surrey, Maple Ridge and Langley, will help to address pressures posed by a growing and aging population and rising demand for health care.
“We are initially investing $7 million this year to implement these recommendations over the next 15 months and I am confident that we will achieve the desired results since each strategy has defined, evidence-based, measurable outcomes,” said Dr. Nigel Murray, Fraser Health’s president and CEO.
Fraser Health established IMPACT to engage health professionals in the health authority to develop strategies to address the increasing demand for acute care services. The initiatives fall under three main goals:
*Redesigning clinical and diagnostic processes to gain better flow and quality of care;
*Investing to improve capacity and quality to bring short term relief of demand pressures; and
*Investing to improve capacity over the medium and long term.
#18. AIR QUALITY: NEED FOIR SMARTER PUBLIC POLICY
More of what we now know about air pollution and its health effects should be making its way into the public policy arena, says the BC Lung Association, who today released the 4th Annual BC State of the Air Report.
The annual initiative unites BC health and environment researchers, physicians and public policymakers to provide a snapshot of air quality issues, pollutant levels, their health implications and new research findings.
“Bringing health advocates together with policymakers to reach agreement on key messages and research findings is as valuable as the end product itself,” said Scott McDonald, Executive Director for the BC Lung Association, who doesn’t believe British Columbians have yet fully grasped the full seriousness of the problem.
Dr. Tom Kosatsky, Associate Director of Environmental Health Services for the BC Centre for Disease Control said, “We know that inhaling constant traffic fumes negatively impacts heart and lung health. It has become clear that long-term exposure causes long-term damage. And new research demonstrates air pollution exposure has adverse effects on expectant mothers, infants and young children. This has implications for land use planners and suggests that distance from major roadways becomes a consideration in the location of day cares, schools and hospitals.”
“Wood smoke is another public health issue that requires attention,” said Dr. Ray Copes, Clinical Professor for the University of British Columbia’s new School of Population and Public Health. He said wood smoke pollutants travel and can have health consequences for those with and without pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.
#19. CANADA’S POPULATION ESTIMATES: SECOND QUARTER
Canada's population posted its highest quarterly growth since 1991 in the second quarter of 2008, with an increase of 125,800. The advance was mainly due to a rise in net international migration which, at 91,600, reached its highest level since the end of the 1980s, according to Statistics Canada.
As of July 1, 2008, Canada's population was estimated at 33,311,400. From April to June, Canada's population grew by 0.38%.
The increase in net international migration over the second quarter of 2008 is mainly explained by an increase in both the number of immigrants and non-permanent residents.
Between April and June, 69,200 immigrants entered Canada, nearly 7,600 more than the same quarter a year earlier but below the peak of almost 74,500 observed in the second quarter of 2005.
Immigration was up in all provinces and territories. New second-quarter records were reached in Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Ontario, which traditionally received more than half of Canada's immigrants, fell below the 50% mark for the sixth quarter in a row.
The number of non-permanent residents in Canada also rose by more than 30,800 from April to June, the highest increase ever for a second quarter. Higher net numbers of non-permanent residents were observed in almost every province and territory, especially in Quebec and in the four western provinces, where the levels topped second quarter highs.
Canada's rate of natural increase in the second quarter of 2008 remained relatively stable compared with the same period of 2007, with the number of births and deaths increasing in a similar fashion.
CANADA: 33,311,389 (0.38)
Newfoundland and Labrador: 507,895 (0.04)
Prince Edward Island: 139,818 (0.60)
Nova Scotia: 938,310 (0.06)
New Brunswick: 747,302 (0.05)
Quebec: 7,750,504 (0.26)
Ontario: 12,928,996 (0.36)
Manitoba: 1,207,959 (0.40)
Saskatchewan: 1,015,985 (0.39)
Alberta: 3,585,142 (0.78)
British Columbia: 4,381,603 (0.46)
Yukon: 33,144 (0.44)
Northwest Territories: 43,283 (-0.17)
Nunavut: 31,448 (0.52)
#20. WARNING: MAKE SURE APPLE JUICE & CIDER ARE PASTEURIZED
Turning of the leaves signals the arrival of apple season and the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Perry Kendall and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) are once again reminding the public to make sure apple juice and cider are pasteurized and caution should be taken when enjoying this autumn treat.
Unpasteurized apple juice and cider, commonly available at local farmers markets, can become infected with harmful bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. It must be noted that the vast majority of juice sold in BC is safe, but the safety of unpasteurized apple juice and cider cannot be guaranteed. The BCCDC strongly advises that unpasteurized apple juice and cider be boiled for at least one minute before consumption. Chief medical health officers across Canada have stated that only pasteurization can guarantee that apple juice and cider are free of pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella.
Symptoms of infection from E. coli or Salmonella can include stomach cramps, vomiting, fever and bloody diarrhea and can occur within two to 10 days of consuming contaminated food. Up to eight per cent of people infected with E. coli O157:H7 can have severe kidney damage which may lead to death, with the greatest risk in children under five years of age. Health Canada advises children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems not to consume unpasteurized products.
Smart tips for consumers:
*Bring unpasteurized apple juice and cider to a boil for one minute before consuming.
*Avoid serving unpasteurized apple juice and cider products to those most at risk (young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems).
*Freezing and refrigeration do not make unpasteurized apple juice or cider safe.
*Ensure freshness and quality by refrigerating apple juice and cider products and respecting their best-before dates.
*If you believe that you have become ill as a result of drinking unpasteurized apple juice or cider, see a doctor immediately and notify your local Health Authority.
#21. TREASURES FROM BRITISH MUSEUM COMING TO ROYAL B.C. MUSEUM
A visit to the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) in the spring and summer of 2009 will be a journey through the evolution of civilization across hundreds of thousands of years and all parts of the globe.
Treasures: The World’s Cultures from the British Museum, which makes its North American premiere at the RBCM, May 1 – September 30, 2009, highlights cultural achievements – the artistic, ceremonial, decorative and functional. It illustrates how cultures have come together – and come apart – through the ages. And it brings together more than 300 artifacts dating from prehistoric times to today.
“This exhibition explores nations and civilizations that have shaped our world for almost two million years,” said RBCM CEO Pauline Rafferty at an event this morning to announce the exhibition.
Treasures: The World’s Cultures from the British Museum arrives at the Royal BC Museum on the heels of a highly successful, nine-city tour of Japan, Korea and China. It brings together some of the most celebrated objects from the British Museum’s renowned collection – from the oldest-known artifacts made by human hands to monumental antiquities from ancient Greece and Rome to provocative contemporary art from around the world.
The Royal BC Museum, a provincial crown corporation, collects, preserves and interprets artifacts, specimens and documents that tell the story of British Columbia. As the provincial museum and archives, the RBCM proudly shares that story with the world through its research, exhibitions, collections and public programs.
For more information on the Royal BC Museum, visit www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca or call 1-888-447-7977.
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